Mehbooba Mufti announces protest on seventh anniversary of abrogation of Article 370, apologizes for Jantar Mantar remark

Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a protest across Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 demanding restoration of Article 370 and 35A. The party has also adopted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to constitutional rights, justice, peace and dignity in the Union Territory.

PDP, on its 27th foundation day, adopted a resolution calling for opening of LoC roads transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a bridge between central Asia and south Asia. The party has called for the release of all political prisoners. August 5 this year marks the seventh anniversary of the reading down of Article 370 and 35A, when the erstwhile state of J&K was made into the two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.

“The party resolved to observe August 5 by organising peaceful district-level protests across Jammu & Kashmir, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the constitutional position of the region and defending the democratic and federal principles through peaceful and constitutional means,” the resolution read.


PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti spoke about the resolution at the party headquarters in Srinagar.

“PDP is committed to a democratic struggle for the restoration of Article 370, Article 35A and the constitutional guarantees that protected the unique identity and special status of J&K. We call for the immediate release of political prisoners and detainees, an end to the misuse of preventive detention laws, and the restoration of democratic rights, civil liberties and the rule of law,” said Mufti.

The PDP chief said J&K is passing through one of the most difficult phases in its contemporary history. “We believe in peace with dignity and the resolution describes dialogue, reconciliation, confidence-building and meaningful democratic engagement among all stakeholders as the only sustainable path towards lasting peace and stability in the region,” Mufti said.

PDP reiterated its commitment to the return, rehabilitation and resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits and all other displaced communities. The resolution expressed solidarity with innocent civilians affected by conflicts across the region and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to peace, justice, humanitarian values and respect for international law.

The party demanded a transparent, merit-based and time-bound recruitment process to fill more than one lakh vacant government posts. It called for the “equitable utilisation of J&K’s natural resources for the benefit of its people, greater administrative justice for the Pir Panjal and Chenab regions, and enhanced political representation and empowerment of women.

Mufti’s Apology

Meanwhile, Mufti also apologised for her remarks made at Jantar Mantar justifying the use of force against Kashmiris. “If the remarks have hurt people, I apologise,” said Mufti. She had visited Jantar Mantar on July 23 to extend support to the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest. She opposed the police action against student protesters in Delhi but said the “use of pellet guns in Kashmir Valley in the past is understandable” as the security forces were fighting militancy. “I meant to say the words ‘bahana banta hai’ (they get an excuse), but I couldn’t say ‘bahana’ as I was talking to a lot of people,” she added.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who had sought an apology from Mufti, along with other political leaders said that using the word “if” cannot be termed as a genuine apology. “When someone says ‘if anyone was hurt’ it is not an apology…For five days, people were told it was an AI manipulation and today the party president herself accepted that she had made the remarks…those who misled the people should answer for it,” said Abdullah.

Aga Ruhullah’s Conference

Ruling National Conference MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, who skipped the party’s recent protest in Delhi to demand statehood to the union territory, is organising a conference in the national capital. A programme titled ‘Listening to J&K: Dialogue, Dignity and Democratic Futurity’ would be organised under the banner of ‘The Justice Commons’ on August 5, 2026 at the Speakers’ Hall of the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi.